Fishing fury at transition 'betrayal'

Fishermen reacted with fury to the government’s acceptance that the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy will continue to apply until December 2020, organising a flash demonstration on the Thames outside parliament on 21 March.

Fishing for Leave has called the transition deal a “second surrender” of Britain’s fishing, “a pitiful, disgusting, abject betrayal”. It is also calling on the public to join the fight with them.

“We need YOUR support as the public, please keep your eyes open for what we have planned and turn out and get behind our fight to stop what’s left of our fishing industries being decimated in the 21month transition when our great nation will be an EU puppet state,” the campaign said on 25 March.

An MP commented that there are not many votes in fishing, meaning it’s not important. But fishing is an iconic control issue – people across the country care very much about it, and know about the lies and betrayal of prime minister Heath in 1973, who handed over the industry in order to be allowed to join the EEC. The result has been massive destruction.

The fishermen are being told to focus on post-December 2020. But that cuts no ice with them. They know that during the years between now and leaving the EU can enforce detrimental legislation over discards “to cull what’s left of the British fleet” along the 12-mile limit over which member states currently have an element of control.

Related Content

About Us

As communists, we stand for an independent, united and self-reliant Britain run by the working class – the vast majority of the population. If that’s what you want too, then come and join us. Read more

Sign up for e-newsletter

Enter your email address below and click “Sign Up” to get your regular news update from the CPBML. It’s free, and we won’t use your email address for anything else. (NB: you will be sent an email asking you to confirm your sign-up – if you don’t see it, check your spam folder.)

We voted to take control, to take responsibility. Now we must make our demand loud and clear again, force them to carry out what they undertook to do – and make it clear that whatever happens we will not give up.